Monthly Archives: December 2015
The effect of a hydrogen sulfide releasing molecule on the cold storage of livers from dead donor rats
The liver is the largest organ inside our body and, as long as it keeps healthy, it will be in charge of a wide range of mechanisms that are essential for life. Liver will filter the blood
VIRTUOSO: Virtual clinical trials concept to help identify resistant tumors
The use of anti-cancer drugs (chemotherapy) is one of the standard-of-care therapeutic treatments routinely applied in clinics. However, a significant portion of patients who show a good initial response to the chemotherapeutic treatment become unresponsive to the
A novel approach to identify primitive CD34+ stem cells
Stem cells are important for living organisms for many reasons, as they are capable of renewing themselves as well as to expand to repair and regenerate damaged tissues. Adult stem cells exist throughout the body after embryonic
Sponge toxin kills lung and breast cancer cells in mice
Peloruside A is a potent toxin that was isolated from a New Zealand marine sponge. It has a similar mechanism of action to the commonly used taxane-type anticancer drugs, including paclitaxel and docetaxel, that block the action
Embedding etiquette skills in science course assists undergraduate career preparation
In our fast-paced, technology-driven world, the age-old custom and etiquette of writing a thank-you note may often be forgotten. Educators often assume undergraduates have mastered the art of crafting a thoughtful and articulate thank-you note by the
Rust proofing the humble oat: wild cousins to the rescue
Crown rust is a disease caused by the fungus Puccinia coronata (Pc) that leads to a reduction in grain-yield of the oat crop and other cereals. Rust diseases of oat and cereals like wheat and barley result
Crab shells to value-added chemicals by combining chemical and physical forces
Shells of crabs and shrimps are a great resource for producing a variety of valuable chemicals. The exoskeleton of these animals is made up of a polymer chitin, which is the most abundant marine biomass on our
Estimation of the ground bearing capacity by means of VIS-NIR, SWIR and LWIR imagery
The indiscriminate use of agricultural and forestry machines cause compaction and rutting, producing severe soil damage. When soil is compacted and/or rutted, its porosity decreases, and consequently, the amount of oxygen that is required for a healthy
Generation and incorporation of electrophilic fatty acid nitroalkenes in triacylglycerides
Electrophilic fatty acid nitroalkenes (NO2-FA) are compounds formed in our body that induce protective programs in cells and tissues and reduce inflammation. Beneficial effects have been proven in various diseases such as diabetes, stroke, heart attack, lung
Epstein–Barr virus in peripheral blood predicts response to rituximab therapy in rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, characterized by chronic inflammation of the joints that may cause permanent cartilage and bone damage. The cause of RA is unknown. It is, however, believed that a combination of genes
Water-saving microfilm has minimal algal impact
Technologies that reduce evaporation are attractive to water managers, as the annual amount of water evaporating from water storages can be more than the annual consumption of water for domestic and industrial purposes combined. The application of
Hair shedding in women: how much is too much?
Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most common form of hair loss in women and reduces quality of life for sufferers. It is characterised macroscopically by hair loss and balding on the mid-frontal scalp and microscopically
Sex, salt, and the central nervous system: estrogen and body sodium balance
Historically, research about reproductive hormones like estrogen has focused on reproduction and reproductive behaviors. Certainly, this focus is understandable; however, it is becoming increasingly obvious that estrogen plays a broader role . In fact , estrogen profoundly
Major disaster has minimal effects on mental health measured by dispensing of psychiatric medication
There are well established links between traumas and psychiatric disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, other Anxiety Disorders, and Depression. Traumas include events that affect individuals such car accidents, rapes, and violence as well as disasters
You are what you do: how we construct the mental image of our body
We commonly take our body for granted and have no doubt that our right hand, say, is part of our body. However, recent demonstrations of the rubber-hand illusion suggest that the mental representation of our body is
Photomultiplication type polymer photodetectors with broad spectral response range from UV light to NIR
Polymer photodetectors (PPDs) have attracted more and more attention due to the low cost, flexible and environment friendly and lighter weight compared to their inorganic counterpart. Up to now, most of the reported PPDs are photodiode type
A new general principle of virology
Shin et al describe for the first time a novel strategy used by persistent viruses to temporally regulate expression of the structural proteins that make up their virus particles. The viruses that infect humans and other mammals
Pre-radiation lymphocyte harvesting and post-radiation reinfusion in patients with newly diagnosed high grade gliomas
In people diagnosed with malignant brain tumors, the prescribed treatment is often radiation and chemotherapy; however, these treatments severely affect the immune system, increasing the chance of early death. Radiation in particular has been known to cause
Pre-treatment is important in the utilisation of food waste for the production of high value products
Proper disposal of food industry waste is a problem that developed as well as developing economies face alike. Conversion of food waste is a pioneering idea which can lead to huge financial gains while ensuring a healthy
Punching above their weight: how the smallest RNAs offer great promise for cancer biology
In recent decades, scientists have witnessed transformative developments in the field of RNA biology. RNA molecules are similar in composition to their more famous DNA counterparts (they are both nucleic acids), but are present in a variety
